5 Easy Tips to Detox Your Pantry

If there’s one thing I learned on my journey to losing 55 pounds, it’s this …

Your pantry can be your best friend or your worst enemy.

It sounds dramatic, but when you’re looking to lose weight, your pantry holds a lot of power.

If it’s full of junk food … foods you love but know aren’t very good for you …

Then that pantry will serve as a temptation – something to lead you astray on your journey to slim down.

If the pantry is full of carefully chosen, healthy ingredients instead … it can be one of the biggest support systems your body needs while you try to lose weight.

It can offer you comfort … sustenance … and though you might not think it, even some pretty darn tasty food.

Because the pantry holds so much power, I always recommend a top-to-bottom cabinet detox for anyone looking to lose weight.

That means clearing out anything that doesn’t hold nutritious value – value that can make you healthier, give you energy or boost your weight loss results in some way, shape or form.

Are you hoping to lose weight in 2016? Then get a head start by detoxing your pantry today.

Here’s what I did to detox mine years ago. I promise it will work for you, too!

Get rid of the processed stuff

Pull everything in your pantry out, and place it on your counter. Take a quick peek at every nutrition label for every item you have.

If you spot any additives, chemicals, preservatives or colors, throw it in a big box or trash bag. (You should take it to a local food pantry later on.)

Also be careful to look for any ingredients you can’t pronounce. These can upset your hormonal balance, and they provide no nutritional value whatsoever.

You don’t need them!

Stock up on healthy staples

Head to a health food store, and invest in some healthy staples to keep on hand at all times.

Some of my must-haves? Almond butter (goes great on celery or apples!), Tamari (a gluten-free soy sauce,) and lots of nuts, dried fruit and seeds. These make great snacks, or they even go well on salads for an extra crunch.

Make room in your fridge

If you’re truly eating health, the bulk of your food should come from the fridge – not your pantry.

I’m referring to things like fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood and other naturally-occurring foods that must be kept fresh until you’re ready to eat them.

Go ahead and clean out anything that doesn’t fall into that category, so things like mayo, barbecue sauce, calorie-laden pudding and sugary yogurt. Only keep the stuff that as it occurs in nature. It’s the best for you, and it gives you plenty to work with when prepping and cooking meals.

Tackle your beverages

Have boxes of soda, juice boxes or fruit drinks? Is your fridge filled with Gatorade or other sugar-filled beverages?

Add these to your donation box, too.

In my experience, people tend to forget about drinks when trying to lose weight. They focus only on food calories – the ones you eat and chew.

They often forget about what they drink throughout the day. Things like lattes, cokes, juices and other drinks can really lay on the calories if you’re not careful.

Get organized

It’s easy to feel tempted by quick-fix meals like macaroni and cheese, Ramen noodles or even just a bag of chips when you’re in a hurry.

Keep yourself from falling victim to an in-a-rush mistake by thoroughly organizing and cleaning up your pantry.

Put snack foods on one area, meals in another, and ingredients in yet another. You can even use small, snack-size bags to create little to-go treats for when you’re cramped for time.

You’ll be surprised at how easy this makes eating healthy – even when your schedule’s a little tight.

Are you hoping to lose weight in the coming year?

Then get a head start by detoxing your pantry and fridge today.

I took these exact same steps when I was just starting out, and look where I am today! I’ve lost over 50 pounds, and I’m in the absolute best shape of my life – even after having two kids!

You can have results like mine too, and it all starts with ridding your home of the bad, and stocking it with the good, healthy, nutritious foods it needs to get fit.

Remember, this is only the beginning. Soon enough, you’ll feel better, look better and live longer because of the decisions you make right now.

Good luck, and let me know how your pantry detox went in the comments!

Certified Health Coach, Certified Personal Trainer, Fitness Motivator - I have a passion for helping people change their lives. I started out helping my friends and now I give advice and tips to perfect strangers who have now become my friends. I love what I do and I wouldn’t change my life even if I could. This kind of happy is truly a gift and I’ll do whatever it takes to be able to give this gift to others.

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